The Burning Tavern spread wide inside, the ceiling high as a vaulted sky. Most of its light bled from the hearth, making a cave-like dimness that tugged at Canary.

People on sofas murmured about the magic accident, voices soft as small paws raking damp soil.

The carpet ran thick and yielding, like ancient moss over an island, swallowing every step without a trace.

Servers drifted through the room, bartenders toiled behind the bar, all like beings bound by an old spell. Ghosts repeating assigned duties without end.

You could see it in their wooden faces. Even their smiles were fortress-smiles, raised on purpose when a guest drew near.

Canary sat in a broad armchair. The tall man stood by her. The framing felt like a painting of a season gone: a faded princess and her loyal guard.

If time hadn’t gnawed away, why would the woman look so thin? If not for loyalty, why would the big man stand and not sit?

Everyone who glanced at the strange pair found the same question rising like mist.

“These chairs—” the man tugged at his tight shirt and spoke in broken bits, “are small enough for only half my ass. Shouldn’t’ve come.”

“Drink after work tastes best.”

“I haven’t done anything yet.”

“And you’ve already stirred up a stink.” Canary leveled her breath, one finger sliding the rim of her glass. “Taunting Melvina wasn’t in the plan.”

“I was just chasing a kitty.”

“To you, is Melvina more important than the plan?”

He rubbed the whiskers at his lip and sank into thought. In the low light, he looked like a misapplied shadow.

After a long beat, his eyes went deep and sharp, like a hunting beast. “Opening the Dark Realm is your job. I only do the cleanup.”

“That’s the arrangement. But I’m the one commanding.” Canary sipped. “You don’t poke Melvina again.”

“Didn’t think she’d fire off magic. Her crisis play is too direct.”

Canary drank again. “That woman’s on our cooperation list.”

“I won’t hurt her. I just want a little fun before we finish.”

“We still have to visit the Sacred Cathedral a few more times.”

He smoothed the wrinkles in his shirt, displeased. “Can’t we wake it once and done? Why sneak like thieves?”

“The Dark Realm’s sleep point hangs above the Sacred Cathedral. And a flock of nuns lives there, fluent in Sacred Magic. But when Clara leaves the Institute, we speed the wake.”

“You fear a cripple more than the nuns?”

“If they’re that wary of Clara upstairs, there’s a reason.” Canary flicked him a look. “She was the smartest person of the nineteenth century.”

“They’re all the same to me.”

“We could’ve used Stratford to take the Institute piece by piece. But that woman’s too arrogant. Dealing with Clara again is bad news.”

“You seem to know a lot of inside stuff.”

“Snatches of rumor. Our clearance isn’t enough.”

He propped a hand on the chair back and asked, resigned, “When will Clara leave the Institute?”

“The radio blasted the Shattered City’s Dark Realm bumped to S-Class across the Empire. When the King summons her, we’ll speed up.”

“So we’ve got someone at her side?”

Canary shook her head. “Think in straight lines. A royal summons won’t drag. To be safe, we push speed tomorrow night.”

“I’ll go scout around the Cathedral first. Haven’t been.”

“Just don’t make trouble.”

“On that, I thought Melvina would land in jail. Didn’t expect her release so fast.”

“A Professor at a noble academy. Connections aren’t strange.”

He set a hand on Canary’s thin shoulder. “If I go in, you’ll get me out.”

“Don’t make trouble. Don’t make me say it a third time—”

“I won’t. I just... hypothetically...”

“I shouldn’t have teamed up with you.”

“Once you see my strength,” he leaned in, voice dry as sand, “you’ll fall for me.”

“A cannibal kink? I’m still normal. My taste isn’t that heavy.”

“Heh. When you went to the Cathedral, did you see Melvina?”

Canary thought a beat. “A Holy Maiden isn’t someone you meet by chance.”

“She must taste great.”

“If you eat, you eat after the job.”

“I want to taste both Melvinas. But one’s on the list. I really hope she picks a fight with us.” He paused, letting it seep into Canary’s mind like water into cracked earth. Then he added, “Don’t blame me then.”

Canary’s smile was symbolic and small. “If someone gets hurt so the plan runs smooth, the top will understand. But you don’t start it.”

“I’m a law-abiding citizen.”

“Ha. Back to the inn. Sleep.”

“It’s only ten.”

“When you scout tomorrow, do nothing extra.”

He straightened his torso and pocketed both hands, posing like a statue for a commemorative photo. He held still.

“Heard me?” Canary asked, confirming.

“As long as I don’t run into Melvina—”

“Mission first. I already gave you leeway.”

“I know. Like you said: if someone gets hurt for the plan, the top understands.”

“Your turn to promise.”

He dropped his gaze and checked the wear on his shoes. Then he looked back at Canary’s profile. “Fine. I promise not to hurt Melvina.”

“Neither Hedi Melvina is allowed!”

“Whether she lives or dies hardly matters. The stir from waking the Dark Realm, or the stir from her death—same ripples in essence.”

“Even so, there’s an order.” Canary finished her drink. “If the Holy Maiden dies early, I can’t get near the Cathedral.”

“I get you.”

“You’d better truly get it. I’m going back to the inn to sleep.”

“Go on.” His gaze swept the room like a net. “I’ll grab a late snack.”

Canary rose, gave him one last look, pushed the door, and strode out. He kept drifting through the tavern, until his eyes locked on a woman near the restrooms.

“Hello there, pretty.”

“Sorry, do we know each other?” the woman asked, still polite.

“We will in a moment.” He signaled the barkeep for a menu. “Got a favorite label?” His voice ran steady, with a northern Imperial lilt.

Arms folded, she gave him a once-over. “You want to buy me a drink?”

“Like Cangtuo?”

“Little girls drink that. I want Tianluo, brewed with magic.”

“You do like to make it costly.” He smiled with indulgence. The shadow covered his ocher teeth with mercy. “But I’m honored to taste it with you.”

“Only because the sailboat on the label looks pretty.”

“A work by Gekai Moskela.”

She eyed him with a small gleam. “You know art?”

“I only look big and rough. Inside, I’m delicate.”

“How delicate?”

He popped the top button, loosened a deep-blue tie etched with fine patterns. “Don’t get me wrong. Other parts match my build.”

“I also want Huanshen. All high-end. Can you afford it?”

“Spending on a woman is pleasure.”

“Do you sweet-talk everyone like this?”

“Jealous already?”

Her eyes skimmed his frame, a stray thrill coiling like smoke in her chest. “You’re really good at picking up girls.”

“Maybe the alcohol’s doing it.” He swirled the glass. “Tianluo is top-shelf liquor.”

“And after?”

“After?”

She parted her lips a little, squinted at his face. “I mean... after we drink, what then?”

“If it were daytime, I’d take you shopping. At night, we can only go back to my inn.”

“You don’t live in Naghtown?”

“Just here for work.”

“What kind of work?”

He glanced around, warding off eavesdroppers, and spoke with grave care. “Too many people here. Will you come back to the inn with me?”

“That’s... a bit direct...”

“You hate that?”

“I mean... I’m still thinking...”

“Come whenever you like. I’ll be here a while.”

“Mmm... let’s go.”

“You won’t be disappointed.” His eyes lit bright. Hand to chest, he bowed like a stage actor thanking the crowd. “For me, this will be a night to remember, blessed to meet a beautiful lady.”

“Slick tongue.”

She took his solid arm. They left the tavern together and vanished into a night so cold it bit.